SUSTAINABILITY TRENDS IN COMPOSITES

Amy Moram, Chemical Regulatory Compliance Manager and Sustainable Products Lead at Gurit, shares highlights of the latest sustainability trends in composites.

Greater acceptance of composites within broader range of industries

Composite materials are playing an increasingly important role in meeting the world’s sustainability goals by providing durable, lightweight, long-life structures. We’re seeing a greater acceptance of composites in a broader range of applications: for example, the development of the new Eurocode for composites for use in construction products will provide more scope for these materials to be substitutions for traditional high carbon intensive materials such as steel or concrete.

Sustainable sourcing and addressing the End of Life

However, the use of petroleum sourced chemicals and end of life are still amongst the industry’s biggest challenges. The composites industry is aware of the shortfalls and is working hard to develop the technical expertise to overcome them. A handful of technologies are coming to the fore in tackling these issues and are gathering pace at industrial scale.

• Biomaterials are on the rise and whilst bioderived chemicals provide an effective direct substitution for petroleum-based substances, bio fabrics are not so straightforward. The performance properties need to be carefully analysed for the specific application before a substitution is made; in some cases, a hybrid fabric could be most suitable. Manufacturers must make sure they are able to substantiate their ‘bio’ claims. A harmonised internationally recognised single standard would help with this and support purchasers when assessing product options.

• Recycling of composites is being tackled by many companies. However, it is technically challenging, and costly both financially and in terms of carbon intensity. There are several end-oflife options available, and we’ll see this increasing as technical advances are made over the coming years. (More info can be found on page 148 of our Sustainability Report 2022).

• Getting the full picture through Life Cycle Analysis is becoming more common and the development of ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment Principles and Framework begins to address the need for a standardised framework. There is an increasing expectation throughout the supply chain to conduct LCAs, which means that not being active in this area is starting to be a real disadvantage. Gurit started work in on LCAs via its Circularity workstream back in 2022.

Ratings providing orientation

It is no longer just about the product but about the company; and rating agencies may help direct customers to those who have sustainability engrained in their businesses and have a clear commitment to maintaining sustainability standards.

Overall, much action is being taken to address the sustainability challenges faced by composites. Composites are well-positioned to meet the needs of industry in the years to come but further effective regulation and standardisation is needed to ensure the right and effective sustainable choices are made.

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